On Thursday and Friday of last week we saw the first two reasons--
1. It’s all about widows! When we look at Ruth through the eyes of a widow we can learn all about grief and God and the journey!
2. It shows the 3 paths a widow could choose from after the funeral. Would you like to see your choices spelled out? Take a look at Friday's post.
Today we'll see reason #3. It tells the 2 essential needs of widows.
Every widow has a unique set of needs, but when I was widowed and found two particular needs mentioned in Ruth I was amazed at how Naomi brilliantly tagged the essential needs of all widows.
Take a look at Ruth 1:8,9a (NIV)
Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.Fill in the blanks to what needs Naomi prayed the Lord would fulfill for her daughters-in-law.
May the Lord show you _______________
May the Lord grant that each of you will find _____________
Naomi prays for Kindness and Rest for her young widowed daughters- in- law. Can I get a show of hand for how many widows would like some kindness and rest in their own lives? Whatever her circumstance---whether she's left well off, or bereft I believe each widow needs the kindness of her friends, family, clergy and strangers. She needs to find the rest that the companionship and security of another husband can provide AND/OR the rest of a close relationship in knowing the Lord as her husband/protector/redeemer.
I'm not sure I would have embraced or even accepted that I personally had these needs in the early shock of widowhood. Do you? But as I've matured through the experience, trusted God and his Word more, and have seen and heard the cries of the hundreds of widows I come in contact with, I hold true to kindness and rest as essential helps along the widows' path.
May the Lord grant YOU kindness and rest today!
♥ ferree
To save 20% on my book Postcards from the Widows' Path during my once-a-year sale (only in February) click here:
BOOK SALE
(As always, if this post arrives in your email inbox and the link isn't showing up, simply click on the title line at the top of this page to get to the WCP blog itself so you can view it. Thanks!)
In my early stages of widowhood, I received much kindness from various individuals. I also received a few unkind remarks from others. While still being numb and in shock those few unkindness's were almost like being hit by a tidal wave. It was as if every situtation had been magnified a thousand times. I believe that TLC is one of the most effective healing powers we can give. Becoming a widow helps me now to understand why the Lord placed such a high priority of care, love and devotion be given to widows.
ReplyDeleteYes --you state it so well--- "It was as if every situation had been magnified a thousand times" ---and everything else too!
ReplyDelete